Sonobuoy dispensers



May 10, 1955 K. G. sTRUNK ET AL 2,707,964

' SONOBUOY DISPENSERS Filed April 21, 1949 e sheets-sheet 1 /VCLI :1in-@115' 6111811156161/ May 10, 1955 K. G. sTRUNK ETAL SONOBUOY DISPENSERS May 10, 1955 K. G. STR-UNK r-:T AL 2,707,904

` SONOBUOY DISPENSERS Filed April 21, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 i` lll M E 55 1 l l l I@ 25 5 E? i g/ JNI'ENTORS. l J fel ffl 36' mlm? Wald'bamgnca.

May 10, 1955 K. GfsTRUNK ET AL 2, 70 7,90 4 soNoBUoY DISPENSERS Flled April 21 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jig@ MXWMNWWWM "N Y ATTORNEYS May 10, 1955 K. G. sTRUNK ET Al. 2,707,904

SONOBUOY DISPENSERS Flled April 21. 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS' May 1o, 1955 Filed April 21 1949 K. G. sTRUNK ET AL 2,707,904

SONOBUOY DISPENSERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2,7%?,364 sPatented May l), 1955 dee SNOBUOY DISPENSERS Kenith G. Strunk, East Orange, Thaddeus A. Lelek, Bloomfield, and Waldimir-Semenyn'a, Nutley, N; J., assignors to Breeze Corporation, Inc., lfiewarlr, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 21, 1949, Serial No. 1i Claims. (ci. 3941.5)

This invention relates to launching or dispensing means for'sonobuoys and the like, particularly those which are dropped from aircraft.

The sonobuoy,' a long cylindrical radio transmitting device, is well known in :the art of submarine detection.

ln using these devices it is often desirable todrop them from an airplane. It is also necessary that these'detection devices be dropped in a certain pattern and specified sequence.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sonobuoy dispenser which 'will function with great f Another feature of this invention is its automatic return mechanism for re-setting the launching stations after eachoperation.

The invention consists of the construction, `combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, is illustrated one forni of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which: Y 'Y Figure l is-a vertical section of a portion of the sonobuoy dispenser,Y showing one launching station. The remaining stations have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of ,the sonobuoy dispenser, somewhat enlarged over the scale shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of one of the launching stations, according to this invention, in the released or launched position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View, somewhat enlarged, of one o f the Vertical members shown in Figure' l.

Figure 5 is a' View in elevation, somewhat enlarged, of the release latch mechanism; according to this invennon.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section ,taken on line 6 6 of`Figure 4.

Figure V7 is a fragmentary View in front elevation, somewhat enlarged, *of a launching armbraeliet with certain parts broken away to show Athe Yc onstruction thereof.-

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a crank shaft and lco-operatingV hook,` according to' this invention. nare 9 .sia somewhat diagrammatic aan new of the l entire sonobuoy dispenser,A according to 'this' "inventlon.

lfRefertins tothe drawings, .asti Rsrtisulalyf? Flflle l,` v10 'y indicates a base-plate liponJ which is carried, by

means of ball bearings 11, the frame 12 of the sonobuoy dispenser. A pan 13 is secured to the bottom of the platelil to receive within the said pan 13 the control Vcable 14 of the mechanism. The pan 13 is provided with an opening 15 at the center thereof so that the son'obuoys' 47 maybe launched therethrough, as hereinafter described. The cable 14 is loosely coiled within'the pan 13 so that the frame 12 may be rotated 360 during load ing operations.

The frame 12 is roughly circular in outline, as shown in Figure 2, and supports thereon a plurality of identically constructed launching stations 16a, 16,b,16c,`etc. Rotation of the frame 1 2 through()VQ is possible with the construction shown, so that each of the stations may be loaded from one point.

' Each of the stations 16 comprises spaced vertical members 17, 1S, to which are attached upper andlower launching arms' 19. Lower launching arms 20 are attached to a support Sil. The paired launching arms l, 2t) support at their outer extremities a sonobuoy carrier 2l. The carrier 21 (best shown in Figure 3) is somewhat U shaped in` cross-section and adapted to receive the sonobuoy 47 therein. Pivotalrnountings 22 are provided at each end of the launching arms 19, 20 so that the carrier 21 'will remain in a vertical position at all times during the launching operation.

An adjustable bracket member 23, having a latch 24, is mounted uponV the'outside of the carrier 21 by ears 24a.V This bracket 23 and its latch 24 are Vadapted to secure 'sonobuoys of various sizes within vthe carrier 21,

as hereinafter Vdescribed.` U

Support members 25 are carried by the frame `12. These'members 25l radiate'in spoke fashion from a ceritrl opening 26. HA `funnel shaped guide 27 is secured tol the'upper face of thesupport member 2S. The guide 2'7 extends `upward' and out until it rests'upon a flange 2,3 on the frame 12. The ange 2S underlies the position`of the sonobuoy 47 when it is loaded iri'to thecarrier. The 'guide`"27, therefore, supplies a substantially/'continuous'support for the sonobuoy 47 in its traveltowar'd the launching opening 26.

'The motive power for launching the sonobuoy by means of the dispenser is supplied by raising the arms l19,20 against the tension of a spring 29, best shown in Figures 3 and 4. A rotary solenoid latch 30, or similar holding device, is employed to retain the launchingarms 19,20 inthe loaded position until released, as hereinafter described.

The latch mechanism, best shown Figures 5 and 6, comprise a solenoid 31 adapted to impart ya rotary motion to a plate 32 secured thereto. The plateV 32 in turn carries two pins '33, '34 normal to the outside face thereof. The pin 33l is grasped by the end 35 of a tlat spring 36. The spring 36 is secured at its other end to thev'solenoid housing 37, so that it will'resist any rotation of the plate 3 2 and tend to return lit to its original position. A plunger 3S is carried by the housing 37 so that it will Vcontact the pin 33. The plunger 38l is held away from the pin 33 by a coil spring 39. However, when pressure is applied to the plunger 38, Vit may be depressed to force the pin 33 down, thereby providing a manual rotation 'ofthe plate 32 and the pin 34 thereon. A

Rotation of the pin 34 causes it to `clear the step fit) of a pawl 4l. The pawl 41 is then free to rotate about its shaft 42 under the force exerted by a coil spring 43.

lOne end of the spring 43 is secured to the pin 34, and the other end toa small detent -44 on 'the face ofthe pawl 41. The outer end of the pawl shaft 42 is rigidly 'connected to a 'latch 45. A hooked shaped construction on the end of the latch 4S enablesW it to engagea'roller 46 carried by one of the lower launching armsfZil. When the' latch isV rotated, either by `the 'electricaloperation of the solenoid 31, or by the manual depression of the plunger 38, it releases the pin 46 and frees the arm 2t) for launching.

As the launching operation takes place, a hook 48, carried by a bracket 49 secured to the bottom of the launching arms 20, is swung into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. At this location the end of the hook 48 lies in the path of a crank 51. This crank 51 comprises a section of a substantially continuous series of elements joined by universal couplings 55 which extend around the base of the launching stations, as shown in Figure 9. A detail of the hook and crank assembly is shown in Figures 7 and 8, from which it may be seen that, as the crank 51 is rotated it will engage the hooks 48 above it. As the hook 48 s drawn down by the rotation of the crank 51, it rotates the arm 2t) upon the shaft 52. The arm 2t) carries a quadrant 53 to which is secured a cable 54. As the bracket 49 is rotated by the hook 48 it not only raises the launching arms 19, 2t),

but also, by means of the cable 54, stretches the spring 29,

as shown in Figure 4. When the latch 45 engages the pin 46, the launching station is ready for reuse. The crank 51 continues to carry the hook 48 around with it until it reaches a point where the hook 48 snaps out of the path of travel of the said crank 51. The gear motor 56 (see Figure 9) which drives the crank shafts 57, continues to turn the cranks until it reaches its starting position, at which point the motor is shut off by a cam operated limit switch 58.

As the arm 19 returns to its elevated position shown in Figure l, a lug 59 thereon closes a limit switch 60 secured to the vertical member 18. When a sonobuoy 47 is inserted within the carrier 21 it depresses a at spring 61 carried by the frame 12. The spring 61 overlies another limit switch 62 which is closed by the pressure of the sonobuoy 47 on the spring 61. The launching mechanism is then ready to receive the launching impulse from a control box (not shown) by way of the cable 14.

A shock absorbent pad 63 is provided around the launching opening 26 at the center of the dispenser. The pad comprises a metal ring 64 which is underlain 'by a soft cushion 65. Thus, as the arms 19, 2i) swing downward from the position shown in Figure 1, to that indicated by dotted lines in that figure, and in the perspective view of Figure 3, the bottom of the carrier 21 will be brought down upon the pad 63 and the sonobuoy 47 ejected.

The loading of the sonobuoy dispenser is facilitated by the above described construction, and is achieved as follows:

The loader steps upon the treadle 66 of a foot lock (see Figure 9). This treadle 66 frees the frame 12 from its engagement with the base-plate 10. Then the loader spins the frame around upon the ball bearings 11 until he has brought the station to be loaded in front of him. The sonobuoy 47 is then grasped and inserted upside down between the launching arms 19, 20 with its top resting upon the guide funnel 27. The bottom of the sonobuoy 47 is tilted forward until the ange 67 provided thereon is snapped under the latch 24 on the bracket 23. This latch 24 is provided with a thumb pad 68 which may be used to release the ange 67 if it becomes necessary to remove the sonobuoy 47 without launching it. Loading may be carried on while the other stations are operating to launch sonobuoys.

It is desirable that suitable electrical control means be provided to launch the sonobuoys in a desired sequence and at given intervals. In the event of failure of the automatic launching system, however, the manual release carried by the solenoid latch may also be used.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

2. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, rotatably mounted to turn through 360, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

3. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member rotatably mounted to turn through 360, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member concentric with the central opening, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

4. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central openign, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers each comprising spaced vertical members, launching arms pivotally mounted upon the vertical members and a sonobuoy carrier held by the said arms, the whole being carried by the support member, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

5. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member rotatably mounted to turn through 360, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers each comprising spaced vertical members, launching arms pivotally mounted upon the vertical members and a sonobuoy carrier held by the said arms, the whole being carried by the support member, means adapted to transport the arms of each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the arms of the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

6. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers each comprising spaced vertical members, launching arms pivotally mounted upon the vertical members and a sonobuoy carrier held by the said arms, the whole being carried by the support member, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means comprising a crank carried by the support member, a hook coupled to the said launching arms and engageable by the said crank to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

7. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member rotatably mounted to turn through 360, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers each comprising spaced vertical members, launching arms pivotally mounted upon the vertical members and a sonobuoy carrier held by the said arms, the whole being carried by the support member, means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means comprising a crank carried by the support member, a hook coupled to the said launching arms and engageable by the said crank to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

8. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the sup- -port member, means comprising a spring together with a latch mechanism adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

9. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member, comprising a spring together with a solenoid operated latch mechanism adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

10. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member, electrically responsive means adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position.

l1. A sonobuoy dispenser comprising a support member, said support member being provided with a central opening, a plurality of sonobuoy launchers carried by the support member, mechanical means comprising a spring together with a latch mechanism adapted to transport each of said sonobuoy launchers in the direction of the central opening to dispense the sonobuoy therethrough and means to return the sonobuoy launchers to a loading position,

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

